The history of our hall dates back to the 1920’s. With a population growth in the district the community required a larger building for social events, also they wanted to honour the men who gave their lives during WW1 and those who had returned, a thank you. The land most suitable for this type of memorial was the park next to the School of Arts building in the main street.
Funding quickly got under way, the members of the RSL and Citizens Committee worked tirelessly through out the district. Local timber was sort and milled at the local sawmill, the builder Mr Fenwick was also local and the community chipped in as labourers through out the build, and the hall was completed in 1926.
On the 20th August 1926 the Memorial Hall was opened by Major E Costello DSO. Sometime later the School of Arts building was moved from it position next to the hall and attached to the eastern wall of the Hall and this building became the supper room.
Another conflict had broken out and the call went out for young men to enlist, those who enlisted, left from in front of the Memorial Hall before boarding a train to Brisbane. As Cooroy had been selected as a base for some of the USA military they also headed to Brisbane to catch other transport. After WW11 the men were welcomed home and a Diggers Ball was held in their honour in the Hall.
Over the years the Memorial Hall was used for many things, the Dawn Service and the infamous Two Up games on Anzac Day, different Dance Schools, Gymnastic, Badminton, Boxing, Indoor Bowls, School Concerts and Speech nights. Blue Light Disco was a hit for the younger generation.
The Woodworkers and the Orchid Society would hold an event over two days and the Genealogy Society held a “Back to Cooroy” day.
In 1979 to allow for the building of the new RSL premises, the trusteeship was transferred over to the RSL board. The RSL has since had two extensions and the front entrance to the Memorial Hall has been compromised. In 1988 under a community Employment Program in conjunction with the council, the Memorial Hall was described as COOROY’S GREATEST COMMUNITY ASSET.
The years rolled on and a public meeting was called by the RSL and they stated the Hall required a lot of work and restoration. Several public meetings later and a robust meeting with the Noosa Council – allowing the community to air their concerns – resulted in the Council applying for Trusteeship of the Hall. It was then up to the Community to form a committee and incorporate, and this has been done.
In 2017, we found ourselves in sic with the community who did the original funding to build the Hall. Thanks to the Noosa Shire Council who are shared the load and went dollar for dollar with the funds raised by the community and a sizeable contribution from our local Bendigo Bank. The renovations were completed in April 2018 and celebrated with over 350 members of the community on 21st April 2018. The Hall is open for business again. In November 2018 there will be a 10 day commemorative celebration for the ending of WW1 100 years ago, and Lest We Forget the diggers to whom this Hall was built in memory of.